Sweden

Sweden's FDI screening regime, now entering its third year of operation, recorded 1,335 notifications to the ISP in only the first three quarters of 2025, already surpassing the full-year 2024 total of 1,261 notifications. The accelerating notification rate signals that the regime is materially affecting transaction timelines and deal structuring across a broad range of sectors, including essential services, defence-adjacent activities, and critical raw materials.

Norton Rose Fulbright · 2026-05-22

White & Case notes that Sweden's FDI Act, implemented December 2023, remains a key consideration in a significant share of transactions involving Swedish companies as it enters its third year. The Act covers investments in 'protection-worthy businesses' spanning seven sector categories, and only third-country (non-EU) investors are subject to potential prohibition by the ISP, though EU-domiciled investors must still notify.

White & Case LLP · 2026-03-31

FDI inflows to Sweden reached USD 10.7 billion in the first half of 2024, down from USD 14.6 billion in the same period of 2023, reflecting a tighter global capital allocation environment. Sweden nonetheless retains structural investment appeal, ranking 15th on AT Kearney's 2024 FDI Confidence Index and 2nd on the Global Innovation Index 2024.

Lloyd's Bank Trade / International Trade Portal · 2026-03-01

On 22 May 2026, Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed a memorandum of understanding on bilateral technology cooperation in Helsingborg, on the margins of the NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs meeting hosted by Sweden. The agreement opens expanded cooperation channels in artificial intelligence, connectivity, biomedicine, energy, space, quantum technology, advanced manufacturing, and defence.

Government of Sweden – Ministry for Foreign Affairs · 2026-05-22

On 17 May 2026, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson received Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Gothenburg, resulting in an upgrade of the Sweden–India bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership. The leaders and European business representatives engaged on innovation, climate, and trade, signalling intent to deepen commercial ties across high-technology and green-economy verticals.

Government of Sweden – Ministry for Foreign Affairs · 2026-05-17

Business Sweden's ongoing trade policy tracker highlights that U.S. Section 232 tariff deadlines and broader IEEPA-based tariff measures continue to create supply chain and investment reassessment pressure for Swedish exporters, with steel and aluminium tariffs having doubled to 50% and legal challenges moving toward the U.S. Supreme Court. Swedish exporters are advised to reassess tariff classifications and supply chain configurations ahead of the 9 July U.S. tariff deadline.

Business Sweden · 2026-05-22

Sweden hosted the NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs meeting in Helsingborg on 21–22 May 2026, reinforcing its posture as an active NATO ally and elevating its profile as a hub for defence-adjacent commercial and diplomatic activity. This event coincided with the signing of the Sweden–U.S. technology MOU, compounding the strategic signalling value of the gathering for market entry professionals in dual-use and defence technology sectors.

Government of Sweden – Ministry for Foreign Affairs · 2026-05-22

The Swedish Government published its annual export control communication on 22 May 2026, providing an account of Sweden's export control policy for military equipment and dual-use items in 2025, including reporting on EU and international forum cooperation on strategic export controls. This document is a key reference for market entrants in defence, dual-use, and advanced manufacturing sectors assessing compliance obligations.

Government of Sweden – Ministry for Foreign Affairs · 2026-05-22

Sweden's National Board of Trade (Kommerskollegium) is actively tracking trade flow impacts following U.S. tariff actions, publishing updated monthly statistics on trade flows post-tariff imposition. The Board also flagged, in an April 2026 analysis, that gaps in EU artificial intelligence regulation create residual risks for markets and cross-border trade that are not yet addressed by existing EU AI rules.

Kommerskollegium (National Board of Trade Sweden) · 2026-05-09

Sweden's 'Made with Sweden' initiative, launched in December 2025, remains the government's primary vehicle for export promotion, inbound investment facilitation, and international competitiveness in the current period of rising global protectionism. The initiative is coordinated across the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defence, and the Prime Minister's Office, reflecting a whole-of-government approach to commercial diplomacy.

Government of Sweden – Trade and Investment Promotion · 2026-05-22

Sweden's 2023 Trade, Investment and Global Competitiveness Strategy—targeting objectives by 2030—is due for an independent evaluation in 2026, which may result in policy recalibration affecting investment promotion priorities and sector focus areas. The strategy's three pillars cover competitiveness conditions, export and international presence expansion, and positioning as a partner in green and digital transition.

Government of Sweden · 2026-05-22

Sweden's structural commercial strengths—multilingual qualified workforce, high per-capita purchasing power, innovation leadership, and a moderate corporate tax regime—continue to underpin its investment appeal, though market entrants should account for high labour costs, strict labour regulations, and a small domestic market with significant export dependency as structural constraints.

Lloyd's Bank Trade / International Trade Portal · 2026-03-01